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| Artist Statistics |
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Artistopia Rank : 207
Member Since : 3/2004
Last Login : 11/11/2006
Views : 19,958
Songs : 12
Events : 0
Alliances : 0
Releases : 2
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Artistopia URL :
http://www.artistopia.com/harmony-ynez-reyes |
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| Latest Music By "Harmony" ynez reyes |
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On Beautiful Maui
Published Date : Sept 1999
Total Downloads : 86
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News Article |
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Interview with "Harmony" ynez reyes |
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| Published on 4/27/2004 |
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| By Artistopia |
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Q. At what age did you realize you wanted to become a music artist and why?
Harmony: I didn't decide to write music. It has taken me by surprize. My first lyric/poem was for Billy D. I was 9 years old and in love. Later on I had my children and worked 2-3 jobs a day, 5-7 days a week to support my children. I was happy because God gave me healthy sons...3 of them! Then something happened. I'd get home, take a shower, make dinner and help with the homework. Then we'd make a fire outside and me and my kids would play music under the starry Arizona night sky. I played on a $10 guitar, Joel played the tub bass, Larry played the jug...and Eric was the drummer. We wrote lots of songs together....children's songs. When the kids would finally get to sleep, I'd go out into the desert behind our rented house...and listen. That's where my music comes from. It was all hanging out there in the ether, just waiting for me to hear it. All the music I ever heard and wrote, came to me that way. It's like some invisible benevolent Guardian bestowed the gift of His Mana upon my pitiful being. Letting the music come out, saved my life! Anyone can sit down and write a melody and lyrics etc, and that is very good. But my experience is that the music that came out healed me...completely, from depression, from apathy, from uselessness. One plays the music over and over and over. If it has no real meaning to the songwriter, how can they continue to play it thousands and thousands of times....over a lifetime. The music has to originate, be prompted into existance by real experience and feeling. That gives it a "vibration" that gives everyone a new lease on life so to speak. I see that when I perform.
I didn't decide to write music...but I know what the music has done for me...pouring out, drying my tears, quelling my sobbing...letting me smile again like an innocent child, feeling joyful to be alive. The great relief of finally expressing the painful inaudible reality of loving and caring too much...too deeply...transforming my grief into sweet consoling rhythmical music. The music even gave me the self-esteem I didn't have before that. Someone was culturing me...thru invisible channels...so richly manicuring me for some unknown reason...allowing me to be a real individual...not an imposter anymore. When I finally began perfoming locally, I could feel the connection with my audiences thru the music. The music was a bridge to their hearts and souls. It broke down all the barriers of ego and prejudice.
Q. Most music artists have that special someone or thing that influenced their decision to do music. Did anyone or something in your life play a major role in influencing you to go into the music business?
Harmony: Well sure, there have been lots of influences in my life to play music. There were many professional muscians in my family. But I'm not the instrumentalist that they were. But then they weren't prolific songwriters like I am. My tio Pedro Vidal had his own group for many years. He was from Havana, Cuba. He played 1st Violin for Xavier Cugat at the Copacabana. Later his own group played at the El Chico on Sheridan Square (NYC) for 13 years. He moved to Puerto Rico and had a group there in Santurse. He tried so hard to teach me to play piano, God bless him. He was a maestro of Cuban piano music. But I do play piano alot better now.
My Mom married Zoot Sims in the 50's. He was a great guy and a great Dad. I went to his recording sessions, and great jazz artists would come to our little home in San Fernando Valley. I went to Concerts too. It was great music and a great inspiration to me still.
My Grandmother was a great classical pianist and played for the Tampa Symphony Orchestra before marrying and becoming a mother. She was an editor for many newspapers in those days, and had a great mind. She taught me to love God for His Goodness and Mercy. She was and still is my Guardian Angel in this world.
Then there was David. He gave me my first guitar when I was 19. He taught me my first chords and songs (Caanan Land, Folsom Prision Blues and House of the Rizing Sun). He took me out of my fearfully dreary life in NYC and showed me the Pacific Ocean. Showed me a life style I didn't know existed. How much I appreciate his friendship. He's very famous today and the music he's written and played for us over the past 40 years never goes out of style. He lifted up my life so magically. It's as though he broke off a piece of his great magnanimous soul, and planted it inside of me...and it's been growing in me all these years.
Q. In terms of the music, which major artist(s) influenced your style and why?
Harmony: I was a young woman when Brazil '66 came out. Antonio Carlos Jobim inspired me and gave me a rhythm and melody to dream on. So I love Brazilian music. Clara Nunez' music grabs me too. She may still be around, but I don't know. I still have her album. Another great group that touches me deeply, is Ancient Future. They're here on Maui, but the group disbanded years ago. I still have 2 of their great albums. Although my musical style is different from Carlos Santana's, I love his music very much. But more than the music, I admire the man for his mystical soulfullness and decency.
Q. With so many independent artists trying to make it, what makes you stand out from the competition?
Harmony; Well, I don't know. My music is sincere, and for that it has a vibration that penetrates. The world needs all the music it can come up with now....music with a "real vibration". I can tell the difference between music that is contrived, and music that comes from deep inside the artist. The real stuff, retunes my heart and mind to the cosmic eternal nature within, regardless of the subject matter, chord progression, melody or lyrics. It just gets you beyond all that. It's something more than the lines of the staff that penetrates the listener. It's inaudible, formless, without a pulse. Beyond humanity and human vanities...just a pure Truth that has no name. It's like eatting a sumptuous meal and being really full and satisfied.
Q. Music industry professionals are quick to say that being an artist means to gracefully fit a marketable niche in the industry. If you were offered an opportunity that asked you to be something you are not, would you do it to get your foot in the door?
Harmony: Well, I've had plenty of chances to sell out, but I'm far too high strung and sensitive to pull it off. I got sick (early on) of club owners with their hand on my butt; sick of cocktail parties and kissing up to producers who didn't value my individual. I love performing, but don't like being treated like a piece of meat when I'm a real artist. Sound familiar? (smile with me please)
It's fun though to put on a stage persona. It's rough when you try to go get some o.j. at the 7/11 after performing in the neighborhood (Hollywood Canteen or Natural Fudge Company) the night before and people on the street know you and love you from your music. One has to stay in character for the fans. You can't be rude cuz they love and apreciate you. If they wouldn't recognize me, it would be much better, as I like to be invisible most of the time (hahaha)
Q. Making music is one thing, selling it is another. What types of strategies do you use in promoting your artistic work and getting it heard by the proper professionals?
Harmony: Strategies? Hmmm, well, I go to the Swap Meet on Saturdays sometimes and have sold some of my cds there. I have a little business imprinting on mugs and tee shirts, plus I sell my poetry and children's books, watercolor prints etc etc. I built a great website with my own domain name name now. I've got that all going now, so this year I'm concentrating on doing more wi |
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